It’s now more than a decade since the teams – who have picked up four AFC Champions League titles between them – first clashed on the Continent and Choi still clearly remembers that first encounter.

After winning the 2006 edition of the competition, Jeonbuk received a bye to the quarter-finals of the 2007 tournament where they were paired with debutants Urawa.

Brazilian striker Adriano scored the only goal of the game as the 2016 winners defeated the 2017 champions 1-0 a fortnight ago to move two points clear at the top of the standings.

Jeonbuk’s 3-0 victory over Sangju Sangmu on Saturday was the perfect response to exiting the Korean FA Cup a few days earlier as they assumed the familiar position of top of the K League 1 table.

Cedric Bakambu netted a hat-trick as Beijing recorded a 3-1 victory away at Buriram on Matchday Three to move above the Thai side and level on four points with second-placed Urawa Red Diamonds.

Their domestic form, meanwhile, has been impeccable, with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Hebei CFFC maintaining their perfect record as they made it six successive victories to remain top of the Chinese Super League.

With some teams looking to secure their places in the knockout rounds at this early stage and others aiming to keep their qualification hopes alive, the-AFC.com has picked out five things to look out for.

Stoppage-time goals from Takeshi Kanamori and Serginho saw the defending champions claim a 3-2 victory over Gyeongnam two weeks ago – having initially been 2-0 down – to remain two points clear at the top of the Group E standings.

Five points ahead of Wednesday’s opponents, Kashima would advance to the next phase if they win and Johor Darul Ta’zim fail to defeat Shandong Luneng in the day’s other Group E fixture.

Kashima, who will be without the suspended Tomoya Inukai and Koki Machida, warmed up for the game with a 1-0 victory over Vegalta Sendai in the J.League on Saturday.

JDT currently prop up the Group E standings after losing 2-1 away to Shandong on Matchday Three and anything but a victory could see them eliminated from the competition with two games to spare.

But the hosts, who welcome Adam Nor Azlin back from suspension, produced a strong second-half performance in China – with Safawi Rasid scoring a wonderful goal – and go into the game on the back of a 3-1 victory over PKNS at the weekend which kept them top of the Malaysia Super League.

Joint leading scorers in this year's AFC Champions League after Monday's Matchday Four fixtures, Jeddah side Al Ittihad could feel somewhat disappointed with the solitary goal to show for their 20 shots registered against PFC Lokomotiv.

Romarinho's 12th minute opener gave hope for a third win in four Continental ties, but Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov restored parity for the hosts nine minutes before half-time and, despite, a barrage of efforts on goal from both sides the score remained 1-1 at full-time.